Means for producing theatrical stage effects



G; W. HANLUN.

MEANS FOR PRODUCING THEATRICAL STAGE EFFECTS.

APPLICATION man oc.2o,1-3|9.

1,365,990, Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

ll ti UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

onon en w. rmnnon, on NEW YORK, n. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro EDWARD A. MORANGE. or

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MEANS FOR PROD'UGKNG THEATRIGAL STAGE EFFECTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an, 18,1921.

Application filed December 20, 1919. Serial No. 346,316.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon WV. Harmon, a citizen oi the United Eltates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Producing Theatrical Stage Eitects, oil which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to the general type of device disclosed in. United States Patent No. 888,953, grantedfApril 7, 1.908, on my prior invention, and isan improvement thereon. in various respects.

Que object of my present invention is to produce a device of the character referred to which will produce a more beautiful effect than that of my prior invention, also improve the hrilliancy and striking changeable characteristics in appearance, and a particular objectris to produce-theillusion of a colossal diamond or other jewel, according to the coloring and shape of the parts, and to further provide means for the device containing a person, object or group as desired. so as togive the appearance ofbce ing set within the jewel. Another object is to produce a unitary structure adapted to be conveniently and quickly moved and of simple and substantial construction. ther objects will he understood from the following description and accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention, but various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3 showing one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. dis a front elevation.

The device is mounted upon a base A, which in turn is provided with casters A for convenient and rapid moving about of the complete unit, Extending from the sides of the base upwardly are the braces B, which may he in the form of rods or angle irons or of other suitable character which support at their upper ends the journal bearings C and C. An additional central support B is shown extending upwardly from the base to the bearing C. Extending through the bearings is a horizontal supporting shaft 1') which has depending therefrom at its outer end a vertical support member D which carries at its lower end front ends turned inwardly toward the axis as shown in the drawings. These vanes or plates may be in the form of strips of thin sheet metal or other suitahle'material and may be of any desired shape and may have shapes and forms different from each other in the same device to enhance the variable effect. They will also preferably have smooth or polished surfaces and colored with various colors to produce the appear- I ance of the particular jewel intended to be represented, or any other desired representation. These vanes may be provided with supporting rods or light interconnecting elements for securing mechanical strength and may carry lights or other ornaments or movable streamers andthe like for enhancing the illusion produced;

Mounted upon the sleeve F and also journaled in the bearing G is another sleeve 17 carrying a driving pulley G. The forward end of sleeve it" has mounted thereon a reflector I in the form of a pyramid, be-

made upof triangularshaped sectors of reflecting glass or highly polished metal sectors having a nickel plated or silvered surface or otherwise finished to give a brilliant reflecting power. The reflector I is mounted at its apex upon the sleeve F and rotates therewith, the front surfaces of the reflector I being the reflecting surfaces andwhen rotated gives a variable and brilliant setting to thepersoll or objec c tained within the devicein conjunction with the parts already. referred to. The reflector I may have its surface colored as desired, or may have various colors in the different sectors or in different parts of the sectors.

An electric motor J is shown mounted upon the base A and its shaft carries the two driving pulleys K, K, which in turn are belted to the pulleys G, G. One of the belts is shown crossed so as to give rotation of sleeve F and reflector I in a direction 0 posite to that of: sleeve F and vanes or p ates carried thereby, although the same direction of rotation may be desirable in some cases depending upon the illusion desired. Also the ratio of the pulleys may be such as to give different speeds to the sleeves F F and in some cases it may be desirable to have independent driving means for the rotative parts with means for varying the speed and direction of rotation of the parts during the utilization of the device. An electric motor is desirable as the driving means as it is conveniently arranged and the speed and direction of rotation may be varied as desired by the usual speed controlling and reversing rheostat. In front of the parts described is a frame L supported on the base A and is of circular shape and gives the appearance or a mounting or setting for the jewel effect.

7 In the particular device shown, the parts will be rotated by the motor J in reverse directions at the speeds desired, the person or object being supported upon the support E within the setting. Lights of variable colors as desired may be thrown upon the device when in operation from an outside source and may also be li -hted from the inside to change the color or' the reflector, and also the color, or a different combination of colors, may be thrown upon the person, or object, inside the jewel to further enhance the brillianey and appearance. The device produces a variable and sparkling elrect and according to the coloring and make-up of the device gives the appearance of the particular ewel intended to be represented with the person or object set within.

This invention, in various modifications for creating particular illusions or effects may be applied not only to producing theatrical stage effects, but in advertising devices, display signs and other display objects for various purposes.

I claim v 1. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame having a horizontal axis of rotation, a horizontal bearing for said frame, and means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonized frame, said skeletonized frame ex tending in front of the space provided for said object. a

2. The combination of a base, a rotatable frame having a horizontal axis and comprising a series of vanes separated from each other by open spaces, a horizontal bearing for said frame, and means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said frame.

3. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame having open spaces between portions of said frame, a reflector in the rear of said frame, and means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skelctonized frame.

4. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame, a cooperating reflecting rotating element visible through said frame, means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonized frame, and

means for rotating said frame and element. r

5. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonizcd frame, a cooperating reflecting rotatingelement, visible through said frame, means for supporting; a relatively stationary object within said skeletonized frame, and means for rotating said frame and element at different speeds.

6. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame, a cooperating rotating element, means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonizcd frame, and means for rotating said frame and element in opposite directions.

7. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame having a horizontal axis of rotation, a horizontal bearing for said frame, supports for said bearing extending upwardly from said base, a motor mounted on said base fon driving said frame, and means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonizcd frame.

8. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame having a horizontal axis of rotation, a rotatable reflector, a common bearing for said frame and reflector, a support for said common bearing extending upwardly and mounted on said base, and means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonized frame.

9'. The combination of a base, a rotatable skeletonized frame having a horizontal axis of rotation, a cooperating rotating reflector comprising a plurality of sections, said frame and reflector having the same axis of rotation, means for supporting a relatively stationary object within said skeletonized frame, and a stationary frame having a vein tral opening; for framing the device.

GEORGE W. HANLON. 

